A Comfy & Modern Vegas Home
Name: Victoria Location: Henderson, Nevada I just purchased my first home and I’m a L.A. based fashion designer and turned interior designer. This is my Henderson/Las Vegas home, it’s 3,000 square feet of modern & spacious living. A far cry from my apartment in L.A. I love coming home here so I can just relax and spread out. My favorite room is the master which has a lot of pieces from my favorite shops in L.A. I love my light fixtures I’ve collected from all over.
Oct 6, 2016
Stacy Covered Her Rental Countertop With Contact Paper & This Is What Happened
Stacy’s rental bathroom started out just fine. She had white and grey tile floors, a grey-blue wall color, and a white pedestal sink. The bathroom was tiny, but there was a separate counter and mirror from the sink, with plenty of space to store her products. The only trouble was the green countertops, which made the bathroom feel dark and dingy despite it being light everywhere else.
Oct 6, 2016
Work Through Your Wardrobe by (At Last!) Tackling This To-Do List
Cleaning out your closet is a really big task. There’s a lot to unpack, pun slightly intended, when you determine your wardrobe needs sorting—just deciding to get rid of a few pairs of jeans might send you on a tailspin through everything from sentimental memories to body image issues.
Oct 6, 2016
Before & After: Designing Out the Danger in a 1950s Bathroom
Eek! Nadya’s bathroom not only had some structural issues, but it was also lined with asbestos. In the midst of another renovation, Nadya had to tackle the issue on a budget. From Nadya: Our small post-war house in Brisbane, Australia was built in 1959, and like many similar houses of the era, had an asbestos-lined bathroom. As you can see, it was dingy and awful, and water from the shower was seeping into the wall. The nasty stuff had to go!
Oct 6, 2016
6 Classic Dinnerware Sets That Will Never Go Out of Style
(Image credit: Restoration Hardware) From Kitchn → 6 Dinnerware Sets That Will Outlast Your Design Whims
Oct 6, 2016
Partner
Win: A Beautiful Smart Frame from Aura
Prize: An Aura Frame From: Aura Frames Value: $399 You have hundreds (thousands? tens of thousands?) of pictures on your phone right now. And yet, there they sit in your photos app, a 21st-century shoebox collecting dust in a closet. It’s time to get them out of digital storage and onto an IRL wall. Aura is ready to do that. Now, you may remember digital picture frames being all the rage in the mid-2000s. And you may remember tossing yours out after you used it twice.
Oct 6, 2016
A House Full of Creatives Somewhere “Between Mid Century Modern Meets Bohemia”
Name: Hannah Location: Mount Washington, California A publicist, a painter and an entrepreneur walk into a bar… Well not quite, but we do all live together. In what feels like a treehouse, tucked up in the hills of Mt. Washington. Although we are just about seven minutes away from Downtown LA, there is something about this 1920’s house that makes you feel like you are much further away than you are.
Oct 5, 2016
Two Explorers Pursuing a Life in Chicago with Small Riches & Big Adventures
Globe-traveling, curio-collecting, working professionals by day and co-creators of an animated series by night. They’re building a life together rooted in a love of travel and exploration, fueled by intellectual curiosity and creativity. They’re smart and warm and possess Jedi-level cocktail making skills. Here’s life with Mark and Noelle… Mark and Noelle live in a flat in Chicago’s Avondale/Logan Square neighborhood.
Oct 5, 2016
8 Tips for Hosting a Charitable Dinner Party
(Image credit: Sarah Copeland) From Kitchn → 8 Tips for Hosting a FEED Supper
Oct 5, 2016
It’s Complicated: New Yorkers Weigh In on the Realities of NYC Real Estate
Recently, we shared a study that reported the minimum salary you’d need to buy a home in a bunch of cities—New York included. Unsurprisingly, our readers had a lot to say about the subject. Let’s take a closer look at how New Yorkers are reacting to the real estate market in the Big Apple. The mortgage lender that released the study, HSH.com, concluded that the salary needed to buy in New York was $86,215, based on the median home price of $395,400.
Oct 5, 2016
Knife Sharpening Basics: The Video
(Image credit: Christine Han) From Kitchn → How To Sharpen a Knife: The Video
Oct 5, 2016
Unexpected Items to Look for When Thrift Shopping (& Things to Avoid!)
Never sure what to snatch up when you’re out thrifting? Or what to put back down? With so much STUFF to see (and potentially purchase) when you’re out second-hand shopping, it can be tough to make the best buying decisions. While everyone’s decor needs are different, it never hurts to hear what the experts are always on the hunt for (and what they would never take home).
Oct 5, 2016
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3 Things To Consider When Setting Up a Living Room
From 1-bedroom apartments to larger houses, the living room sets the tone for the rest of the home. It should be calming for ourselves and our housemates, as well as any visitors we invite in; it should be equal parts comfort and style. With the right pieces, like those available at Value City Furniture, our houses become homes. So, what should we consider to truly personalize our main living spaces? Ask yourself some basic questions: Do you enjoy having guests over?
Oct 5, 2016
A Comfy & Cozy Railroad Apartment
Name: Justine Location: Greenpoint — Brooklyn, New York Our apartment is a railroad style apartment. At first, this was difficult to decorate, as we had to decide on small living room or small bedroom. To us, a living room was more important. We chose to live here because we love the neighborhood and fell in love with the old charm in the apartment: beautiful moldings, fireplace, etc.
Oct 4, 2016
5 Helpful Facts to Help You Buy and Maintain Your Cutting Boards
(Image credit: Christine ) From Kitchn → 5 Important Things to Know About Cutting Boards
Oct 4, 2016
Before & After: Gussying Up a Get Away Cabin
Ashley’s one room cabin was in need of some style to make it feel like a spot worth running away to. The changes are pretty impressive (be sure to check out the ceiling) and get super impressive when you find out all of the projects were DIY! From Ashley: We decided to completely gut a small one room cabin. It had quite a bit of water damage and was just completely outdated. We did all the projects ourselves and stuck to a small budget.
Oct 4, 2016
6 Cast Iron Skillet Commandments I Never Break
(Image credit: Elizabeth Stark) From Kitchn → All the Things I Never Do to My Cast Iron Skillet
Oct 4, 2016
Partner
Mindy’s Shoppable House Tour: The Chicest Apartment on TV
Name: Mindy Lahiri Location: New York, New York Closet Space: Doesn’t want to talk about it This bright, playful apartment is home to Mindy Lahiri of Hulu’s The Mindy Project, but it’s no blah set piece. This season, Dr. Lahiri’s spacious 1-bedroom just doubled in size (you watched the Season 4 finale, right?). Packed with stylish details and cool design choices, this apartment is ready for its close-up, and should probably be negotiating for top billing.
Oct 4, 2016
A Warm & Funky Garden Flat
Name: Mizzie Location: Harrow, London We live in a two bedroom two bathroom flat in Harrow. It’s an Edwardian house that has been split into flats and we live on the ground floor, which means we get the garden! This was the first flat I looked at when I first moved to London full time. It was only meant to be for three months and I have been here three years! I live here with my partner, my daughter and our dog. My favorite room is probably the back garden. When I moved in it was dirt.
Oct 3, 2016
DIY Costume in a Snap: Venus Flytrap Fascinator
A lot pretty, a little creepy—this Venus Flytrap Fascinator is exactly the look we’re going for this Halloween. Constructing this headpiece is less work than assembling a head-to-toe costume, but the look is still every bit as eye-catching. Watch the how-to video to see how it all comes together.
Oct 3, 2016
6 Easy Ways to Save $100 This Week
After you’ve tackled the big-picture savings tactics like canceling subscriptions, negotiating insurance premiums to lower rates, and reducing energy consumption, you’ll have to examine your micro-spending in order to squeeze any extra cash out of your budget. Even if you’re in good shape financially, there will come a week where you could use an extra hundred bucks—maybe before a big weekend?—to pad your budget with.
Oct 3, 2016
A Foolproof Method for Finally Slaying Your Paper Clutter Monster
Living small has its disadvantages—and the biggest one just might be how a tiny apartment seems to magnify your mess. If you’re going to be a small-space dweller, you have to be ruthless: sorting through your things on a daily basis, deciding with a swift hand what stays and what goes (and most of it should go). If that daily practice has escaped you for, say, the last several months—It’s OK.
Oct 3, 2016
Thrifting Secrets from Someone Whose Home Looks Like a Million Bucks
Not everything in Jessica and Ryan’s home is from a thrift store, but a large bulk of the furniture and decor is. Their style looks anything but second-hand, however. Not surprising considering Jessica Cook is a vintage seller with her Etsy shop Houseworking. I asked her to share her best thrifting tips, second-hand secrets and hand-me-down hints. You’ll be a thrifting expert in no time! Thrift stores are where I do the bulk of my vintage hunting.
Oct 3, 2016
Teddy Ruxpin Got a Makeover & Is Still Creepy AF
Anyone who grew up in the ’80s remembers Teddy Ruxpin. The talking bear with the cassette tape in his back hit the market in 1985, scared us all with his uncanny valley face and low battery voice, and faded into oblivion for awhile. Until now. In case you need a refresher: MommyandGracieShow got a look at the new Teddy at the Dallas Toy Fair and he’s ripe to terrify a whole new generation. Produced by Wicked Cool Toys, the biggest visual difference is in the eyes.
Oct 3, 2016
Before & After: A New Look for a “Sunburn-Striped” Bathroom
There were some great things that happened, design-wise, in the 70s, but this bathroom was not one of them. Molly and Jonathan had a few projects in mind when they purchased their Ditmas Park one-bedroom, but they knew that the “sunburn-colored” stripes in their bathroom needed to be the first thing to go. The problems with the bathroom went beyond the cosmetic.
Oct 2, 2016
A Charming Apartment that Puts Your College Digs to Shame
Name: August & Sara Location: Middlebury, Vermont August and Sara are college seniors who make urban-chic living in the cozy, rural town of Middlebury, Vermont look easy. Nestled in Champlain Valley between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, Middlebury College is home to quintessential New England scenery — thousands travel north to admire the spectacular fall foliage each year.
Sep 30, 2016
How To Achieve Perfect Selfie Lighting at Home
Say what you will about selfies—some people love them, some hate them, and some think they’re an important part of self-care. People have been taking pictures of themselves long before the word “selfie” was added to the dictionary in 2013, and I’m not just talking about the dark days of grainy, over-contrasted, poorly angled Myspace selfies.
Sep 30, 2016
The Casually Successful Host: 5 Secrets for Pulling Off a Modern Potluck
Getting together with friends shouldn’t be a fussy affair. If all you have the time and energy to do is send out an email, then offer to host a potluck dinner at your place and get the gang together for a night. Being the potluck host doesn’t let you off the hook completely, but it’s a heck of a lot easier than cooking for a crowd. The first step to a potluck is sending out the (informal) invitations. And the modern way to do that is online.
Sep 30, 2016
Before & After: A Bathroom Shapes Up With Shiplap
Amanda’s cramped main bathroom was in desperate need of two things: light and space. After patiently waiting for two years, she got to work and created a bright & stylish space. From Amanda: We bought our 1925 Sears Kit home in December of 2014 and have slowly been renovating room by room. We started with the rooms that were deemed “unlivable” by us and let the rest stay as they were. Our upstairs bathroom was one of the rooms we learned to live with for almost two years.
Sep 30, 2016
Self Care Style at Mascot’s Bohemian Boutique
When we toured Liz and Josh’s Bohemian Santa Clarita house, it seemed they knew a thing or two about maintaining a balanced life. The energetic couple has built a flourishing family home and successful well-being business while remaining totally chill in the process (seriously, you just want to be friends with them). Their local shop Mascot Aesthetic shares that spiritual-Bohemian ambiance that their house wears so well.
Sep 30, 2016
Design Doppelgängers: 10 (Nearly Identical) Designer Chair Look-a-Likes You Can Actually Afford
Nothing beats the real deal, but when your wallet hasn’t quite caught up to your great taste, there are ways to get the look without going ridiculously over budget. Lookalikes abound, but not everyone is in the “ok with it” camp. For those who are, we offer up the following scenario: The second you win the lotto, you’ll be on board to pony up for the originals, but until that day comes, we might find you lounging on these knock-offs of classic beauties.
Sep 30, 2016
Lighten Up: A Pair of No-Fail Ways to Make Furniture Look Less Bulky
There are lots of reasons why you might have a too-big or too-bulky piece of furniture in your home. Perhaps it’s an inherited piece you can’t part with. Maybe you need a large piece of furniture for storage. Whatever the case, you don’t have to live with a heavy piece of furniture visually weighing down a room.
Sep 30, 2016
A Well Loved Home for World Travelers
Name: Milgy Location: Kochi, Kerala, India This is our home in Kochi, a city in the southern state of Kerala in India. It’s a 1650 square foot newly built apartment. After living in rentals for 11 years, this is the first home we have owned. We love the plentiful light, breeze and sweeping views of the city from the 23rd floor.
Sep 29, 2016
Before & After: A Bright and Beautiful Guest Bedroom
When Christina and her husband moved into their historic row home, they waisted no time (seriously, no time) getting to work on renovations. During that time their guest bedroom took a back seat to other spaces and became a storage area. When it came time to get around to the guest bedroom, however, Christina went full force on DIY projects, smart planning and beautiful design choices.
Sep 29, 2016
A Gorgeously Dark and Dramatic Family Home in Norway
Name: Maria Location: Skedsmokorset, Norway My husband, Roger, and I built this house and moved in three years ago, and we share it with our two young kids and a French Bulldog. Welcome to Scandi Week—Apartment Therapy’s seven-day focus on all-things Scandinavia (often defined as the countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway).
Sep 28, 2016
Before & After: Reviving a Dark & Dated Rental Bathroom
Amy was #blessed with two very crucial elements of a rental makeover success: an apartment with good bones and a generous landlord. She took those gifts and ran with them, turning her bathroom into a totally lovely, stylish and calming sanctuary. From Amy: The first thing I did when I signed my lease was ask my landlord if I could paint the bathroom.
Sep 28, 2016
Win The Halloween Puppy Parade: Cute No-Sew DIY Costumes For Dogs
Start with your pup’s own harness, hoodie or raincoat, and easily transform them into a ridiculously adorable outfit for Halloween — all without a stitch. And hey, want to match your pet? These dog costumes are great on their own, but we’ve even come up with human costumes to match. Together you two will be the hit of the pet parade. A Poncho Becomes . . . A Stick of Butter Above, Zuzu’s yellow raincoat does double duty as packaging for a stick of butter.
Sep 28, 2016
Hear Us Out: 15 Apple Names That Would Work As Baby Names
(Image credit: Tim Chin) From Kitchn → 15 Apple Names That Could Be Baby Names
Sep 28, 2016
10 Grocery Shopping Tips from Smart Shoppers
(Image credit: Emma Christensen) From Kitchn → 10 Things the Smartest Grocery Shoppers Always Do
Sep 28, 2016
Inside the Quirky AF Home Life of a Rad Roommate Trio
This Silver Lake rental has plenty of physical characteristics to be envious of: charming architectural features, big windows and eclectic furnishings. But it’s not the objects that make this house so special — it’s the trio of creative women who call this space home. Because I secretly wish I was their fourth roommate, I delved more into their home life. Spoiler Alert: They spend typical evenings building puzzles, playing guitar and making you want to be friends with them.
Sep 28, 2016
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Commit to Yourself: Make a Mindful Moments Wall
As summer slips into autumn, the return of the hectic schedule is inevitable: taxiing the kids (or yourself) to and from school and sports, working longer hours, squeezing in grocery runs for weeknight dinners. But as fall gets going, don’t forget to make some me-time. To help you remember, we developed this simple Mindful Moments Wall that uses Command™ Strips, Clips, and Hooks to help keep you at the center of your scheduling.
Sep 28, 2016
Partner
You’re Gonna Want to Get in This Bed
The bed, our dearest place of rest and relaxation, gets a little more appealing when the weather turns crisp. It’s important to make it an inviting place all year, of course — especially considering how much time we spend there — but fall and winter call for some extra-special touches. Like what? Oh, we have thoughts. Serene sheets. One word: flannel.
Sep 27, 2016
A Funky & Book-Filled Live/Work Apartment
Name: Kevin & Emma Location: Volker — Kansas City, Missouri We are Kevin Barrett Kane and Emma Christine Hall, otherwise known as The Frontispiece. We own and operate an independent book design agency from our apartment in beautiful Kansas City, Missouri. Naturally, we collect typewriters, cameras, red tea kettles, prints and artwork, vinyl, and books…lots and lots of books.
Sep 26, 2016
Don’t Put Your Knife In The Dishwasher, Just Don’t
(Image credit: Maria Siriano) From Kitchn → This Is What a Dishwasher Actually Does to Your Knife
Sep 26, 2016
10 Things You Should Always Keep in a Fireproof File Cabinet or Safe
Get these 10 things out of your car, wallet and drawers and into a safe place—literally. A fireproof safe will make sure all the documents protecting you, your assets, and your loved ones are secured in case of almost any catastrophic event, as well as allow you to keep all your important info in one convenient, private, burglar-proof location. And if you’re not currently in a position to acquire a heavy, high-quality safe, I’ve got you covered!
Sep 26, 2016
Discover Your Home Decor Personality: Inspirations for the Eclectic Collector
Some decor styles are easy to pin point, as they follow certain rules. But for the eclectic collector, there are no pre-set design mandates. This artfully cluttered, anything goes aesthetic is all about throwing caution to the wind and filling your home with things you love that you’ve picked up along your journeys, whether from Monaco, Morocco or Minneapolis. To some, pattern mixing is an art form that is learn through trial and error.
Sep 26, 2016